Constitution and By-Laws of the
The object of the California State Rabbit and Cavy
Breeders Association are to unify, foster, promote, improve, further and
enhance, through it’s membership, high standards of
perfection, efficiency and cooperation between all phases of the rabbit and
cavy industry in
do all such lawful acts and things necessary to further the
best interests of the rabbit and cavy industry in the State of California, to
unify and coordinate policies of mutual import between
rabbit and cavy clubs chartered by and
members of the American Rabbit Breeders Association,
Inc.
ARTICLE I
NAME
Section 1: This
Association shall be known and designated by the name set forth in the Articles
of
Incorporation, to wit: The California State Rabbit and Cavy Breeders
Association, Inc.
ARTICLE II
OBJECT
Section 1: To promote, encourage and develop the
rabbit and cavy industry in accordance with
the purposes
and aims outlined in The Articles of Incorporation, to the mutual benefit
of all
concerned.
Section 2: To promote and assist in the organization
of local associations and specialty
breeders clubs for
the purpose herein set out, and to include such associations and clubs as
affiliated members.
Section 3: To hold an annual convention for and
meetings for it’s members and Board of
Directors, inside the State
of
Section 1: Any person residing in
provided in the
By-Laws, and by agreeing to comply with all rules, regulations and mandates
of the
Association.
Section 2: The Board of Directors may elect as an
Honorary Member any person distinguished
for his
political, scientific, industrial or administrative capacity. Honorary Members shall
be exempt
from all dues, fees or subscriptions, but shall have no right to vote at any
meeting
of the
Association, unless also a regular paid member of the Association in good
standing.
Section 3: All members shall be entitled to all
information available to the industry, which is
in the
possession of the Association.
Section 4: The Board of Directors reserves the right
to accept or reject, for cause, any
application for
membership or renewal.
ARTICLE IV
AUTHORITY
Section 1: This Association shall have the authority
to make such laws, establish such rules
and adopt such
regulations as may be necessary for the government of it’s members.
Section 2: For all members upholding the ethics
peculiar to the industry, provided that it’s
members shall not
be required to commit any act which would make them amenable to the laws
of the
Section 3: Roberts Rules of Order shall be considered
as the final authority for this Association
on all
questions not specifically covered by the Constitution and By-Laws.
ARTICLE V
Section 1: This Association shall hold annual meetings
or special meetings at such time and
place as may be
designated by the By-Laws.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 1. The elective officers of this Association shall be a President, Vice President, and a
Board of Directors, consisting of five (5) members, one from each of the five (5) districts. The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall serve as members of the Board of Directors. The President and Vice President shall be elected on consecutive years for a three (3) year term by and from the membership. The District Directors shall be elected for a two (2)
year term by and from the membership in his/her district. In the election of the District
Directors, 1, 3 and 5 shall be elected on odd numbered years and District Directors 2 and 4 shall
be elected on even numbered years. Each year the same number shall be elected as those whose terms shall expire. Any elected officer can only serve three consecutive terms in the same office. When an officer is appointed by the President to fill a vacancy, if the officer serves for more
than half the term in office, this shall qualify as a full term in office. The retiring state President
shall become an ex-officio member of the Board for advisory purposes only.
Section 2: The elective officers of the Association
shall enter upon the discharge of their
duties after the
first Board meeting following their election, and shall serve for the period
for
which they were
elected, or until their successors are elected and qualified. Their installation
shall take place
at the first session of the annual general business meeting of the
Association following their
election.
Section 3: The Secretary and Treasurer shall be
appointed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote
of the Board
of Directors, to serve a minimum term of three (3) years. The Secretary and
Treasurer may be reappointed. The Board of Directors may remove the
Secretary and
Treasurer from office, for
cause, during any term of office.
Section 4. Any adult member of this Association being a member for a minimum of one (1)
year and in good standing, wishing to become a candidate for any district office of this
Association shall write to the Secretary for a nominating petition which the Secretary shall
supply. Any adult member of this Association wishing being a member for a minimum of five
(5) years and in good standing, wishing to become a candidate for the office of President or
Vice President shall write to the Secretary for a nominating petition which the Secretary shall supply. The nominating petition shall be completed by a member and show the member's name
and the office for which the member desires to be a candidate, be signed by him or her, and
shall, in addition be signed by ten (10) members of this association in good standing.
If the office for which the member
is a candidate is that of director, the members signing the nominating petition
must reside in the same district as the candidate and the district from which
and for which
such director is to be elected. All petitions shall be filed, after completion,
with
the secretary
of the Association prior to December 15. The
secretary shall place the name of the member appearing on the petition, and the
office for which he or she is a candidate, on the
election ballot.
Candidates for director shall be listed by
districts. Association members permitted
to vote
only for
candidates within their own district. Election ballots shall be mailed by
February 20 of
each year to each adult member of the
association in good standing on that date.
A candidate
for district director shall be voted
on only by members residing in his district.
Each ballot shall
have complete instructions for the
guidance of the voter. No ballot shall
be counted that has
been changed, tampered with or
improperly voted. The ballots must be
postmarked on or
before March 15 to be counted.
(a)
Should any candidate for an
elected office be unopposed, there shall be no election ballot
issued for that particular position and the unopposed candidate shall be
declared elected to said
office by acclamation.
Section 5: Any
candidate defeated for any office of the association requesting a recount of
ballots, shall
make application for such recount to the Secretary within thirty (30) days
following the
election. The Secretary shall require a deposit of sufficient funds to defray
the
cost of a
recount, that shall be approved by the Board of Directors. A recount shall then be
made by a
committee of three; the contested shall pick one member, the Board of Directors
a
second member,
and a third member shall be chosen by the other two members of this
committee; all three
members of the committee shall be members of the Association in good
standing. The committee shall assemble
and personally count all ballots cast for the office in dispute, and the report
of the committee on the recount, certified to the Board of Directors,
shall be
final. In the event that the contesting
candidate is declared elected by the committee,
his or her
deposit of funds shall be returned.
Section 6. Whenever a
vacancy in office occurs, for any cause whatever, said vacancy shall
be filled by
appointment of the President, approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. No member
of the election committee can be a candidate for office.
Section 8. The division of districts shall be
designated in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE
DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings
of this Association, and act as
chairperson of the
Board of Directors, with full power and prerogatives, appoint all
committees, call
special meetings of the Association, or of the Board of Directors, in
accordance with the
By-Laws, and perform other duties as usually pertain to the office. He
shall be
ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 2: The duties of the Vice President shall be
the same as those of the President,
in the
absence of the President.
Section 3. The Secretary shall devote sufficient time and attention to the duties of his/her office,
and to such other duties as the President and Board of Directors shall direct, as shall be required
to carry out such duties. The Secretary shall be bonded in favor of the Association for a sum to be set by the Board of Directors, said sum to be not less that $10,000. Failure to furnish proof of satisfactory bond within thirty days following appointment shall automatically disqualify the Secretary from office. He/she shall collect and keep account of all moneys due the Association, which moneys shall be in United States funds, pay such accounts as are named herein, and make reports to the Board of Directors.
Section 4: The Secretary shall keep a complete up-to-date membership list, including current addresses. Shall make a quarterly report to the Board of Directors.
Section 5: The Treasurer shall be bonded in favor of the Association for a sum to be set by the Board of Directors, said sum to be not less than $50,000. Failure to furnish proof of
satisfactory bond within thirty days following appointment shall automatically disqualify the Treasurer from office. The cost of the treasurer’s bond is to be paid by the Association. Newly appointed Treasurer shall not assume their duties until proof of bond has been met.
Section 6: The Treasurer shall accept and keep a record of all moneys turned over to him/her
by the Secretary at the end of each month, and of other income derived from any source.
He/she shall pay outstanding accounts and also pay itemized bills presented to him/her by the Chairperson of a Committee when such bills are within an authorized budget.
Section 7: The
Treasurer shall be custodian of the Royalty/Youth Contest Fund and shall not
allow the use of
this fund for any other purpose.
Section 8. The Board
of Directors shall have charge of the various business transactions, and
authorize the expenditure of moneys by and for the Association and pass on any
and all special legislative matters found desirable. It shall have the power to
make contracts in the name of the Association as necessary in the promotion of
the work by any or all departments, or as may
hereafter be
provided, require that the records of the Secretary and Treasurer be reviewed
at the
end of each
fiscal year and upon their retirement from the office, such review to be
performed by
a competent
Certified Public Accountant who shall be selected by the Board of
Directors. The expense of such audit is
to be paid from the general funds of the Association.
The Board of
Directors shall have full authority to revise or adjust the membership dues.
Section 9: A minimum of five (5) members of the Board of
Directors shall constitute a quorum.
The Board of Directors may, between annual Convention Board meetings, conduct routine or special business, hold hearings and reach decisions by mail or email vote, with a majority vote required for passage.
Section 10:
A minimum of 2 signatures must be signed on all checks but not from the
same household. The Board of Directors
must approve any check for over the amount of $500.
ARTICLE VIII
Section 1: The Secretary shall receive an annual stipend of Six Hundred Dollars ($600). An additional allowance for secretarial and office expense shall be given each year, in an amount to
be determined annually by the Board of Directors; such expenditure shall be presented to the
Board of Directors at its annual meeting.
Section 2: The Treasurer shall receive an annual stipend of Two Hundred Dollars ($200). An additional expenditure for treasury and office expense shall be presented each year, in an
amount to be determined annually by the Board of Directors; such allowance shall be given to
the Board of Directors at its annual meeting.
Section 3: Each Officer and Director attending an annual meeting, special meeting or meeting
of the Board of Directors shall be compensated. Such compensation shall be determined and approved by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IX
ALTERATIONS-AMENDMENTS-RESOLUTIONS
Section 1: Any alteration of, or amendment to, the
Constitution and By-Laws to be offered at any annual or special meeting of this Association
shall be made by Resolution, in writing, signed by
twenty-five (25) or more members of this Association
in good standing, and are received by the Resolutions Committee by no later
than October 10 of the year, if it is to be presented at the
annual meeting.
All resolutions are to be confined to one subject. All resolutions shall be
published in
newsletter at least forty-five (45) days in advance of the annual or special
meeting
at which they
are to be considered, in order that members may have the opportunity to form an
intelligent opinion on their merits.
The
Constitution or By-Laws may then be amended by an affirmative two-thirds vote
of
members’ casting
votes at a regular or special meeting for a Resolution.
Section 2. Any
proposed change in, or amendment to, the Constitution and By-Laws, set forth in
the guidelines of section 1, may be submitted to the members of the Association
at any time by mail ballot, to be voted upon, and the ballots counted, in the
same manner as is provided for balloting for the election of officers. An affirmative two-thirds majority of the ballots
cast shall be required for passage of any proposed change or alteration.
Section 3. A Resolution adopted at an annual or special
meeting of the Association shall take
effect sixty (60)
days following such annual or special meeting.
Any change or alteration voted
by mail
ballot shall take effect sixty (60) days
after the date of certification by the Election Committee.
ARTICLE I
MEETINGS
Section 1. Each annual meeting of this Association shall be held in a city to be designated by
the Board of Directors. Notice of the time and place for holding such meeting shall be
advertised in the Newsletter at least thirty (30) days prior to the first day of such meeting.
The President
shall call a special meeting of the Association when so requested, in writing,
by
at least
twenty-five (25) members of the Association in good standing. At any special meeting
there shall be
considered only the special business for which the special meeting was called.
Section 2. At any meeting of the Association, twenty
(20) voting members of the Association
in good
standing shall constitute a quorum. No
persons shall act as proxy for a member.
If no quorum shall be present, the presiding officer shall adjourn the
meeting to a day and hour of his designation.
Section 3: In the event of the absence of the
Secretary, the presiding officer shall appoint an
acting secretary
for the meeting.
Section 4: At all annual meetings of the Association,
the order of business, unless otherwise determined by a majority vote of
members in good standing of the Association present, shall
be:
1st
2nd
Reports of Officers
3rd
Reports of Committees
4th
Installation of Officers
5th
Consideration of and voting on resolutions
6th
General Business
7th
Unfinished Business
8th
New Business
ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIPS
Section 1: Individual adult membership shall pay a fee of ten dollars ($10) per year, or three
year (3) years for twenty five dollars ($25). Youth membership through the age of eighteen (18) shall pay the fee of eight dollars ($8) per year, or three (3) years for twenty dollars ($20).
(a) Any two memberships at the same household shall pay a fifteen dollars ($15) per year,
or three (3) years for forty dollars ($40).
(b) Three (3) or more members at the same household shall pay twenty dollars ($20) per year
of three years for fifty dollars ($50).
(c) Failure to renew individual, youth or any combination membership, be it annual or three
(3) year memberships within sixty (60) days following the expiration date shall result in
automatic termination of membership.
Section 2: All members of this association who have twenty-five (25) consecutive,
uninterrupted years in good standing shall be granted a life membership in this association.
(a) Any member who has after 10 consecutive, uninterrupted years in good standing
may become a life member of this Association by payment of one hundred fifty
dollars ($150) which shall be received in lieu of all annual dues.
(b) Any member in good standing who has reached the age of thirty-five (35) may pay a
one-time fee of two hundred dollars ($200) in lieu of all annual dues and assessments and
become a life member of this association.
Section 3: Any member in good standing except youth members shall have the right to vote in
all elections
Section 4: Any
ARTICLE
Section 1. The President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint the standing
Committee Chairmen and committee members as authorized herein. The term of each Committee
and Chairman and committee member shall be one year from appointment, the President shall
have authority to make such replacements as are considered to be in the best interest of the Association.
Section 2: Each committee shall be authorized to make such expenditures from Association funds for its operation as are authorized in its annual budget and as approved by
the Board of Directors.
Section 3: Standing Committees are: Youth Activities, Royalty Committee, Way and Means, California Rabbit and Cavy News, Show Circuit, State Convention Committee, Life
Membership Committee, Election Committee, Budget Committee, Advertising and Publicity Committee and the Constitutional Committee.
ARTICLE IV
INTERPRETATION-DISCIPLINE-STANDARD
Section 1: The interpretation by the Board of Directors of this Association of the Constitution,
By-Laws, Rules, Regulations, Notices, Resolutions, Properties, and of Association Documents
and Orders shall be binding upon all members of this Association.
Section 2: All notices required to be sent to any member of
this Association shall be sent by
regular mail, prepaid to the member's
address as it appears on the records of the Association, and such mailing shall be presumptive evidence of the
service thereof. Any change of address
must
be sent promptly to the office of the Secretary of the Association.
Section 3: The Board of Directors may impose penalties
upon any member of the Association
for conduct,
which, in its judgment, warrants such action. Such penalties include but are
not
limited to
expulsions, suspensions, and fines.
Section 4: If a complaint of misconduct in office is brought
against any officer or
director of this Association, the Board of
Directors shall be polled as soon thereafter as
possible, and
(a)
If the Board of Directors determines that there is a
reasonable basis for such complaint
and that the Association could be
adversely affected by the retention in office of said officer
or director,
the board may in its own discretion suspend such person pending a final
determination as set forth herein.
(b)